Guiding device for plow-motors.



nnwinivr. WHEELOCK, or MINNEAPOLIS, EMEBY r. WHEELOCK, or non'rrrrrnnn, AND nroKINsoN o wHEnLooK, or MI EAP IS, rarnnnsorn, essrenoas, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T INTERNATIONAL irnnvnsrnlt CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

GUIDING DEVICE FOR PLOW-MOTORS.

Application filed March 22, 1909. Serial No. 485,103.

ful Improvements in Guiding Devices for Plow-Motors, of which the following is a specification. I

Our invention relates to traction engines or motors used in plowing and its object is to provide means for gulding the motor to cause it to travel. at a proper'distance from and along the side of a previously formed furrow. This objectwe accomplish by means of an independent wheel or rotary disk supported a suitable distance in front of the motor and adapted to contact with the unplowed side of a furrow and thereby guide the motor.

Our improvement is lllustrated 1n the accompanying drawings, in wh1ch.

Figure 1 is a plan view and Fig. a side,

elevation of an engine or motor embodying our improvement, showing the guide wheel in operative position and locked against rotation on the vertical axis of its stock or. support; Fig. 3is a view similarto Fig. 2 but showing the guide wheel unlocked and free torotate on such axis; Fig. 4a isan enlarged front viewof the guide wheel and its connections; Figs. '5 and 6 are details of theguide wheel carrier and its-support; and Fig. 7 is a detail view of the devices for turning the guide wheel on its vertical axis. a 1 .lVe have selected for the purpose ofillustration, and have shown in the drawings in somewhat diagrammatic form, an explosiveengine motor, which is the type of motor we prefer to'use for plowing, but our improvements are adapted to. be used in connection with motors of other types. I

In the drawings 1 designates the main frame of the motor, 2' ahousing for the explosive-engine and driving-gear, 3 a seat thereon for the operator, 4c the 1 rear wheels, ,5 the frontwheels, 6 the divided frontaxle, 7 the angular axle arms pivoted to the axle 6, and 8 the equalizing bar for the pivoted arms 7. To these arms are fastened the ends of a cable 9 which runs around a pulley 10 on the end of an operating rod 11 that is journaled in boxes 12 and 18 on the axle'6 and on a support 14 and is provided with a hand-wheel 15 1n convenient position for an operator on theseatB. A gang of plows (not shown) maybe connected to the motor frame in the customary way by the chains 16, or rods, or other suitable means, to enable the motor to draw the gang for plowing. All of these parts may be of any usual or suitable construction.

To relieve the operator of the strainpand labor of giving constant attention to the steering deviceswhile plowing in order that the motor and plows may move in proper direction with relation to the previously plowed ground, we provide a guide wheel 17 arranged a short distance in front of the machine. The inner side of this wheel, is beveled, as shown at 18, adapting it to bear against the land side 19 of a furrow 20 to prevent the motor from moving away from the furrow; and the operator can, by setting the steering-gear in position to give the motor a slight tendency to move in that,

direction, obviate. any tendency of the motor.

to move in the opposite direction, or toward the plowed ground. Such guide wheel is not. only an aid to the operatorin steering the machine, but in effect is made to,

serve as a positive and practically automatic guide for the machine during the plowing along the side of a previously formed furrow. The. guide wheel shown to adapt it toroll on. the furrow bottom.

And it may be arranged to be held in sus pension with its edge or tread above the furrow bottom, or be free to cut into or roll on the bottom of the furrow, without affecting the character of its operation asa guiding device forv the motor.

In the construction illustrated the guide wheel17 is mounted, somewhat in the manner ofa CL i38I Wh ylIl a yoke 21 provided Patented Mar. 14., rare.

on the lower end, of an aXis so that ,Inay-not only rotateon its oWnaXis but also:

turn on its vertical axis orpivot, Ihe axis 22 has itsbear'i'ng'in ajournal -box 23 on the forward end of acarrier-barfld,pivoted preferably on anextension" of the spmdle 25 of one of the motor steering heels, and braced by a stay-brace 26 that is connected to the axle arm 7 betweenthe heel 'frame. The lower portion of the 100x 23 is provided with a notch orbit-set" 27' "for en gaging a corresponding notch or offset 28 on the, top of the stock 29" of thecaster' to constitute the two members of a clutch for locking the axis 22 against turning; A" 001 lar 30, held in place by a set-screw 31-;-

' limits'the lengthwise movement of theaxi'sf in the boX 23. Obviously, when the clutch the; hub 33 of which is seoured to the engaged by a chain 35;, To theendsof the bevel" gear-41 and in mesh therewith a" chain are attached the ends of a cable-36' that runs on a sheave 3 7 carriedlbya spindle 38'. The latter is supportedfby st'ep onia" bracket 39' rojecting outward from the underside of the'frame-I to a ointverti cally ahove the pivot of the axle arm 7, and

it is also journaled in a box provided on similar bracket 40 1 extended 'froni' the upper sidei-o'f thefra'me: '01? the spindleis a bev'el 'pinion 4:2 earri'ed on the end of'anf operating rod 43 wh'i ch is j on'r'na led" in: a hex attaohed to'thj'e frame 1" and a-b0X"45" azsilpport 46 and hand-Wheel it? is piovidedon thefrod' in oonvenient positie'nj for the operator to'tur'h it for control-ling the com-Se of the guide wheel when theclutchis" disengaged: t

to operate? the ohltchit is slidably suhpert'd on a curvedsuppo-rt 48, v'vhiohiis o'on'necte'dto the a le 6' by anniversal-joint49yand cable 50 fastened to the support near the middle is 'exteh'ded; rearward upward? overi'apulley 51 011 a standard 52 and thelllce downwardly totheend' of an operatihg flevir' '53." The lever further-hea 'td'the time: near the seat 3"and arranged to be looked inpositionsjof adjustment'a'tthe siide or a quadrant 54 in the usual we Instead of attachin the cable direetlytb 'the' support it isprefeifablia to conneot it by means of a coil spring 55.

To enable the carrier24 to adjust itself along its support as required when the? di:

rection of travel of the steerin' 'g Wheels is changed; anti-frietion rollers 56' and 57, one I of which issupported from the carrier bar by a p'air of brackets 58, and the other of Whioh isjournaled in the flange of the bar, engage the upper and rear surfaces of the support 48 and allow the carrier to move freely thereon in lateral direction.

In operation, while plowing at the side of preyiously made fiii -roiw the guide \vheelrunson thebottom of the furrow Withits-ibevele'd side adapted toproperly contact with thefland-side whenever the course of themotor is; such as to-ca-nse such Contact;

and the" operator is ab1e,'by -1ifting' the earr'ler "to disengage; the clutch members and then 'by turning the" rod 43; to adjust the inclination-f ofthe g'uidewh'eel relativetothe direction ofthe' motor movement as be reqiilredi' At th'e'end of a fun-ow he may,

as he Wishes, either lift the guide Wheel the ground, or, when the Conditions permit,= allow it to remain 011 the groundandbe free toadj'ustitse'lf to the" course of movement taken bythe motor.

Taming described our invention; What We 1mm and desire to secure by Letters Patent y l. The combi'Iia-tion with" a' l lovv motor,- ofa guide wheel arranged torun in a fur'' rowel-1d bear against the land side her of in advance of themotor, a carrier for the gui de'wvh'eeh a verticalaxis providing' the 5 bearings for subh wheel; means for turning the axisv to vary the inelination of the guide \vhe'eha fclutoh; one member ofWhich is oarried 'by'said axis and the other" by said carrierand meansforv raising and lowering the carrier td move the? npperolutch momfi i and to: engagement with the lower t member:-

2. The dfnbina'tioriw'ith" a trac ion gih'e, of a' 'guid" Wheel" having its" inner side adapted te bear against? the land-side of a furrow; eehrrier" therefor; a" steering; axle, a looking device Controlled by movement of said carrier fer preventing sueh" axlefroni being effectively turned, and means for rais:

ing' and lotverihiq said carrier to release-or lock said"loekihg'deviheb "3. The' combination w-ith plow motor, of a gu'ide wvheel"ad'apted to run" in a' fur row and-"bear" against "its land-side; aver 1 nth-1 axis pro'vidihg m bearings for such Wheel, mansfor" turning the axi'sto vary the inlinat'ion of the uide Wheel, a can rir for such wheel rranged it frontof the motor','- a1o1' ing device, the memes-hr Which is carried-"by I said axis andthe otherby' said carrier for' prevehting the axis" from turning, and means fer raisi'ifg" and lowering said carrier to release or look the lock mg device.

4:. The combination with a plow motor, of i a guide wheel adapted to run in a, furrow and bear against its landside, a vertical axis providing the bearings for such wheel, means for turning the axis to vary the inclination of the guide wheel, a carrier for such wheel arranged in front of the motor, a locking device, one member of which is carried by said axis and the other by said ca'rrier for preventing theaxis from turning,

of the motor, a locking connection, one,

member of which is carried by said axis and the other by said carrier for preventing the axis from turning, and means for raisin and lowering said carrier to release-or lock the locking connection. 1

'6. The combination with a plow motor, of a guide wheel adapted to run in a furrow and bear against its land-side,a vertical axis providing the bearings for such wheel, means for turning the axis to vary theinclination of the guide wheel, a carrier for such wheel arranged in front of the motor, locking means for said guide wheel, the effect of which is dependent upon the position of said carrier, a pivoted support for the carrier, and operating connections with such support for raising and lowering the carrier and with it the guide wheel and its connections.

7. The combination with a plow motor, of a guide wheel carrier arranged at the front thereof, a vertical axis journaled thereon, a yoke extending downwardly from said axis, a vertically arranged guide wheel mounted in the yoke and adapted to bear against the land-side of a furrow, a locking connection controlled by said carrier for preventing such axis from turning, and

means for raising and lowering said carrier to release or lock said locking connection.

8. The combination with a plow motor, of a guide wheel carrier arranged at the front thereof, a vertical axis journaled thereon, a yoke extending downwardly from said axis, a guide wheel mounted in the yoke and adapted to bear against the land-side of a furrow, a clutch, one member of which is carried by said axis and the other by said carrier, and means for raising and lowering the carrier to move the upper clutch memher from and to engagement with the lower member.

9. The combination with a plow motor including steering wheels, a divided axle and steering gear, a guide wheel adapted to run in a furrow and bear against its land-side, a carrier therefor pivoted to the axis of one of the steering wheels and extending in front of the motor, locking means for said guide wheel the effect of which is dependent upon the position of said carrier, a pivoted support on which the carrier is free to move laterally, and means for raising and lowering the guide wheel and its connections.

10. The combination with a traction engine having oscillatable steering wheels, hand operative means for oscillating said wheels, a carrier operatively connected to said wheels, a furrow pilot wheel mounted in said carrier, and a separable connection controlled by the rising and falling of said carrier controlling the guiding effect of said pilot wheel upon said oscillatable steering wheels.

11. The combination with a traction engine having oscillatable steering wheels, hand operative means for oscillating said wheels, and a furrow pilot wheel having connections, including a carrier and locking means, for oscillating said wheels, the locking means being rendered effective or ineffective according to the position of the carrlers.

EDWIN M. WHEELOCK. EMERY F. WHEELOCK. DICKINSON O. WVHEELOCK.

Witnesses:

E. HOFSTEDE, J. L. JOHNSTON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Eatents. Washington, D. C. 

